Choirs, brass and organ

The Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir is gearing up for their annual Christmas concerts featuring the Washington Symphonic Brass Quintet from Washington, D.C. – a third time for the amazing players to come to Harrisonburg to perform with the SVCC.

Concert dates are 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5 and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6 in Lehman Auditorium at EMU. Tickets are expected to sell out for both performances.

Having collaborated twice before with Phil Snedecor and the Washington Symphonic Brass Quintet, choirs and audiences know what to expect from this ensemble – thrilling, note-perfect brass music as well as stellar musicianship. The members are all professional performers and play with ensembles including symphonies and military bands in the metropolitan area. The WSB came in 2003 and 2006 and look forward to their third time in the Valley and working with organist John W. Fast.

“It’s always a thrill working with Julia and the SVCC,” said Snedecor. “The standard Julia has set for the kids is inspiring and always makes this an exciting event for us. I can’t tell you how many great comments we receive every year about the two CDs we’ve made together. We can’t wait for the third!” (The SVCC produced “The Angel Choir and the Trumpeter” in 2004 and “Christmas Joy” in 2007.)

About the choir

The three performing choirs – Concert, Treble, and Preparatory – will perform separately as well as together at the Christmas concerts and will also have a chance to work with the trumpets, horn, trombone, tuba (and percussionist) that make up the group. Favorite choral/brass selections will include Carol of the Dance, which Phil Snedecor arranged for our concert in 2006. Christmas sing-alongs and hymns are also part of the program.

Other choral favorites performed by the Concert Choir will include Bob Chilcott’s Midwinter, Britten’s This Little Babe from A Ceremony of Carols, and The Angel Choir and the Trumpeter. The Treble and Preparatory choirs will sing Deck The Halls! and Sans Day Carol as well as other Christmas favorites.

Ticket information

Concert dates are Saturday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 6 at 3 p.m. All seating is reserved and tickets may be purchased through the EMU box office at (540) 432-4582 or online at www.emu.edu/boxoffice. Presale tickets in a special reserved section are $20, regular tickets for adults $15, students & seniors (65 and older) $12, children 12 and under $7. Tickets at the door are $2 more/ticket.